Depleted softball team loses opener, relies on defense to rebound

The softball team, coming off an Elite 8 appearance in the 2007 5A playoffs, lost four important seniors and the missing pieces showed, as the team was shut out 8-0 by Collins Hill in the team’s opener. The Lady Rams aren’t short on talent this season though, as junior infielder Hayley Downs is back after winning Gwinnett Co-defensive Player of the Year last season. The team did rebound to nab a 2-0 win over Jackson County on Saturday. … The football team squared off against McEachern in the Kell Powerade Classic and won Gwinnett’s only game 31-21. The Rams were led by quarterback Tyler Horne and running back Ean Pemberton, as Horne scored twice and Pemberton netted 110 yards on the ground. Last season Pemberton helped lead the Rams to a 10-3 record and a spot in the third round of the state playoffs. The defense is solid at the linebacker spot despite the loss of Tristan Strong, as Terry Williams and Jonathan Langston still roam the field. The key for Mickey Conn’s crew will be to solidify the interior lines, as both were hit with graduation losses.